Hansi Flick prioritizes caution, delays 26-year-old Barcelona star’s comeback vs. Alavés | OneFootball

FC Barcelona have concluded a successful League Phase in the revamped Champions League format, finishing second in the table. This means that they get to miss the dreaded punishment round and directly move to the Round of 16 where they wait to see who they will be facing.

It’s time for Hansi Flick’s men to turn their attentions to La Liga however, and hope to build on the absolute thrashing that they handed to Valencia last weekend. They are set to welcome Deportivo Alavés to the Olympic Stadium tomorrow.

A Robert Lewandowski hattrick saw Barcelona beat the Basque club in their previous encounter this season. How Hansi Flick would love for the Pole to put in a similar display of goalscoring tomorrow, at home this time!

Now, as per SPORT, Hansi Flick has decided not to call Dani Olmo up for the game against Alavés tomorrow, threading on the side of caution. The German coach wants the 26-year-old to be 100% fit for the important phase of the season.

Injuries have been Dani Olmo’s biggest curse throughout his career. For a player who is just as good as he is, it is a shame that they have never really allowed him to have a continued period of impact for any of the teams that he has played.

If there is something that one can take solace from, it is the fact that the umpteen injuries he has suffered in his career haven’t really curtailed his gameplay. He returns every time looking as good as he ever was and Barcelona need his X-factor in important games.

Dani Olmo is a unique profile in Hansi Flick’s team. For example, Barcelona might have been so much better with him playing against Atalanta midweek, as the number 20 could have feasted against the Italian side’s man-marking system.

It remains to be seen if Hansi Flick calls the ex-RB Leipzig man for the game against Valencia in Copa del Rey. The German coach has an important decision to make and let’s wait and see how things play out going forward.